New Book Offers Construction Pros a Guide to Surety Bonds

Contractors, project owners, attorneys, CPAs and construction industry stakeholders now have an indispensable new resource. The Contractor’s Guide to Surety Bonds: A Primer on Contract Surety Bonding for Construction Professionals by C. Constantin Poindexter, has been officially released and is now available worldwide through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Surety bonds are the cornerstone of construction integrity, ensuring that projects are completed on time, subcontractors are paid, and taxpayer dollars are protected. Yet, many contractors find the bonding process complex and opaque. This comprehensive primer demystifies the world of contract suretyship, equipping construction professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in a highly competitive market.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience as a bondsman, managing general agent, and corporate surety executive, Poindexter provides a clear and authoritative introduction to contract surety bonding. The book explores the historical and legal foundations of suretyship, from common law guarantees to the modern-day Miller Act and state “Little Miller Act” frameworks. It explains how surety companies prequalify contractors, guides readers through the lifecycle of a bonded project, and details how bonds function as dynamic tools of risk management, financial credibility, and disciplined growth. Chapters include discussion of the importance of construction-specific financial reporting in sustaining bond capacity, offer guidance on handling bond claims and disputes, and examine the public policy considerations and legal mechanisms that make bonding a vital component of the American construction sector.

Poindexter emphasizes that surety bonding is a strategic lever for contractors seeking to expand capacity, enhance reputation, and institutionalize discipline. The book illustrates how contractors can use bonding relationships to scale responsibly, strengthen governance, and unlock access to higher-value projects. It also explores the reputational capital that bonding provides in competitive bidding, the stability it offers suppliers and subcontractors, and its role in succession planning and long-term organizational sustainability.

C. Constantin Poindexter is a credentialed thirty-year veteran of the insurance industry, a thought leader in surety and in reinsurance. As the Founder and CEO of Surety One, Inc. and Chairman of Janus Assurance Re, he has dedicated his career to advancing the industry, educating new professionals, and building trust in corporate surety guarantees. His management of the philanthropic commitments of Poindexter Surety Group member companies mirror his professional mission, reflecting a lifelong dedication to supporting both commerce and the communities in which they operate. This philosophy underscores the book’s central message: surety bonds are not merely administrative hurdles, but powerful instruments of growth, accountability, and integrity in the construction industry.

The Contractor’s Guide to Surety Bonds: A Primer on Contract Surety Bonding for Construction Professionals is now available in paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNCN19M9 and Barnes & Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-contractors-guide-to-surety-bonds-c-constantin-poindexter/1148092491?ean=9798317811839.